Lunenburg fire leaves resident homeless, one firefighter injured

LUNENBURG -- At least one person was left temporarily homeless when a three-alarm fire ravaged a house at 71 Highland St., on Sunday about 11:26 p.m., Fire Chief Patrick Sullivan said.

Nobody was reported injured in the blaze, but a firefighter was treated at HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster and released after falling outside the home.

The fire apparently started on the first floor, but the cause was still under investigation Monday, Sullivan said.

"We ended up going to three alarms just for manpower," he said.

It was an older home with balloon construction, meaning there were no firebreaks in the framing.

The fire may have smoldered in the walls for some time before spreading, Sullivan said.

The fire was knocked down about 12:10 a.m. Firefighters had to tear down walls and ceilings to look for embers.

"Very manpower-intensive to get at it," Sullivan said.

The resident of the home called 911 to report the fire.

Firefighters were already at a chimney fire at a home on West Groton Road, also known as Route 225, but firefighters from Townsend were manning the fire station and went to the scene along with Lunenburg firefighters.

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